LUSAKA, Zambia, March 31, 2026/APO Group/ –Liquid Intelligent Technologies (http://Liquid.Tech/), a business of Cassava Technologies, a global technology leader of African heritage, is pleased to announce the appointment of Leah Nakazwe Kooma as Chief Executive Officer of Liquid Intelligent Technologies Zambia, effective 1 April 2026.

With over two decades of experience across the telecommunications, financial services, and media sectors, Leah’s appointment underscores Liquid’s strategic growth and dedication to expanding its leadership in digital infrastructure in Zambia and beyond. This move reflects our ongoing commitment to innovation and regional development.

“Leah’s leadership is pivotal at this stage for our Zambia business and the broader region. Her proven ability to deliver results will drive Liquid Zambia’s next phase of growth,” said Wellington Makamure, CEO of Sub-Saharan Africa, Cassava Technologies.

Leah began her career at Barclays Bank before joining Celtel, where she worked across multiple African markets. She joined the founding team of Vodafone Zambia in 2016, playing a key role in launching the country’s first 4G LTE network as Chief Sales and Distribution Officer. In 2017, she joined MultiChoice Zambia as the GOtv Commercial General Manager and was later appointed Chief Customer Officer, then Managing Director.

“I am very excited about joining the Liquid team. I have watched from the terraces as the business has evolved over the years, and I believe that, together with my team, we can take it to the next level. Having started my career in sales, marketing, and customer service has helped me understand what customers want and how to treat them. Over the years, I have had the privilege of working with people from different backgrounds and cultures, which has enabled me to collaborate seamlessly across diverse business environments. This experience also helped me grow into an effective communicator, whether with customers, clients, or co-workers,” explains Leah.

Leah holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics and Development Studies from the University of Zambia and a Master of Business Administration from the University of South Wales. She currently serves on several boards, including as Board Chair for the Mulungushi International Conference Centre, and is a member of the Institute of Directors and Business Professional Women International.

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, March 27, 2026/APO Group/ –Parastatal regulatory agency the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) will participate at this year’s African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 as an official Local Content Partner, reinforcing its leadership in advancing indigenous capacity across Africa’s energy sector. Taking place from October 12–16 in Cape Town, the event will provide a strategic platform for the NCDMB to showcase Nigeria’s evolving local content framework and investment opportunities.

 

In parallel, the NCDMB continues to strengthen its domestic capabilities, most recently launching a 12-month pipeline engineering training program in March 2026 for 33 young engineers in Port Harcourt. Delivered in partnership with Renaissance Africa Energy and MJD Oilfield Services, the initiative focuses on pipeline pigging, corrosion control and integrity management, aligning workforce development with major infrastructure projects like the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano Gas Pipeline.

 

On the infrastructure front, the board is advancing construction of a 204-room Radisson-managed hotel and conference center in Yenagoa, scheduled for commissioning this December. Positioned adjacent to the Nigerian Content Tower, the facility is designed to support industry collaboration. Complementing this, the NCDMB has commissioned a Clinical Skills and Simulation Laboratory at Bayelsa Medical University, enhancing healthcare capacity in host communities through cutting-edge training technologies.

 

Industrial expansion remains a core pillar of the board’s strategy. Under the Nigerian Oil and Gas Parks Scheme, pilot parks in Odukpani and Emeyal-1 are nearing completion and are expected to generate around 2,000 jobs each. These shared-services industrial hubs are designed to localize manufacturing, reduce costs and enable indigenous firms to scale production across upstream and midstream value chains.

 

From a financial and policy standpoint, the NCDMB is deploying multiple funding mechanisms, including a $100 million equity investment scheme, a $500 million intervention fund and a $20 million women-focused initiative. Recent enforcement measures – such as stricter expatriate quota controls and mandatory compliance certification – further signal a shift toward deeper localization, transparency and long-term investor confidence in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

 

“The participation of the NCDMB at AEW 2026 is a strong signal that Africa is serious about building its own capacity and retaining value within the continent,” says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber. “Local content is not just policy – it is the foundation for sustainable growth, job creation and energy security across African markets.”

 

As AEW 2026 convenes global investors, policymakers and operators, the inclusion of the NCDMB as a Local Content Partner underscores the growing importance of in-country value creation. With dedicated forums on skills development, technology transfer and industrialization, the event is set to drive actionable dialogue on how local content can unlock resilient, competitive and investment-ready energy ecosystems across Africa.

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, March 27, 2026/APO Group/ –African bauxite producers are rapidly moving beyond commodity exports, investing in alumina refineries that convert raw ore into high-value products. While Africa holds nearly 30% of global bauxite reserves, it currently contributes less than 1% of alumina production – a gap that underscores both the continent’s industrial potential and a lucrative investment frontier. With the global alumina market projected to grow to $67 billion by 2032, Africa’s downstream sector is emerging as a strategic hub for long-term growth and local value creation.

 

African Mining Week 2026 (October 14–16, Cape Town) will serve as the key platform connecting investors, project developers and government regulators with these emerging opportunities. A dedicated panel on “Unlocking Refining Investments” will focus on strategies to scale refinery projects, address operational challenges and maximize local economic impact across the continent’s bauxite value chain.

Nigeria Leads With Gas-Powered Refining

Nigeria is fast-tracking its first large-scale alumina refinery, securing $1.3 billion in financing from the Africa Finance Corporation and the Solid Minerals Development Fund to support a one million-ton-per-annum facility. Expected to produce 19 million tons of alumina over 20 years, the refinery is projected to generate $1.2 billion in annual GDP contributions while advancing the government’s goal of growing mining’s economic contribution from 1% to 10%. Powered largely by local gas, the project aligns with Nigeria’s Decade of Gas initiative, combining energy security with industrialization and local beneficiation.

Speaking in February, Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals, Henry Alake, stated: “We don’t want corridors exporting internationally; we want factories across borders to create jobs and generate value locally.”

Guinea and Ghana Scale Up Refining Capacity

Guinea is pursuing six alumina refineries by 2030, aiming for 7 million tons per year. Deals are in place with China’s State Power Investment Corporation, Chinalco and France’s Alteo and Alcoa. Construction is underway on the first facility in Boké, a $1.2 billion, 1.2 million-ton-per-annum refinery led by the Winning Consortium Alumina Guinea.

Ghana targets 4–6 million tons of annual alumina refining capacity through partnerships with Greek industrial group Mytilineos SA, enhancing local beneficiation of bauxite resources. Meanwhile, Australian company Canyon Resources is advancing a feasibility study for a refinery at its Minim Martap project in Cameroon, with results expected by Q3 2026.

Implications for Investors

These projects illustrate a broader push to capture downstream value in Africa’s mining sector. Alumina refineries not only increase export revenue but also generate high-skilled jobs, stimulate local supply chains and attract international investment. By linking energy infrastructure, industrial policy and mineral beneficiation, these facilities can transform bauxite-rich countries into regional manufacturing hubs.

African Mining Week 2026 will bring stakeholders together to accelerate deal-making, form partnerships and discuss operational strategies for refinery deployment. With governments and developers focused on turning reserves into industrial value, alumina refining is positioned as one of the continent’s most tangible opportunities for economic transformation and strategic investment.